One of the most accomplished film actresses of her generation, Jodie Foster has been a glbtq icon for decades, though only recently has she obliquely acknowledged her lesbianism.

No other contemporary actress has generated as much interest in her personal life as Foster, an interest intensified by her steadfast refusal to discuss her private life in interviews. For years, with her lesbianism an open secret in the film industry, the gay press demanded—to no avail—that she come out publicly.

Foster’s tomboyish roles as a child and her strong female protagonist roles as an adult fueled speculation as to her sexuality, especially among her numerous lesbian fans.